#1002: new art is refused when no layer is shown and unlocked

With every layer hidden or locked, the insertion layer fell back to the top layer anyway, so
drawing a shape, typing, pasting, making a graph, a flare, a grid, trim marks or a symbol put
the art on a hidden or locked layer: invisible, or unselectable by Select All. Illustrator
refuses to draw on a locked or hidden target layer (public forum answers, e.g.
https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator/can-t-draw-a-new-object-in-my-document/m-p/11107182).

DocState::target_parent is insertion_parent for new art, failing with "the target layer is
locked or hidden" when it would be a layer that isn't editable; those creation paths use it.
Another layer that is shown and unlocked still takes the art, as before. The message is in the
de, es, fr, it, ja, ru and uk catalogs. File > Place is left as it is (another branch reworks
it).

The test hides, then locks, the only layer: an ellipse, a polar grid, text and a paste each
fail with the message and leave the document unchanged; a new layer then takes a rectangle.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

# Conflicts:
#	ROADMAP.md

ROADMAP.md

@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ Ranked; detail in [docs/roadmap.md](docs/roadmap.md) and [docs/gaps.md](docs/gap
 
 | Date | What landed |
 |---|---|
-| 2026-10-11 | Effect › Brush Strokes: Accented Edges, Angled Strokes, Crosshatch, Dark Strokes, Ink Outlines, Spatter, Sprayed Strokes, Sumi-e (G2). Command parameters from agents and files checked before anything changes (paint, place, cuts, dashes, crop, asset ids, anchors, paths, distort; #984–#999); command dialogs keep whole numbers whole, so Create Object Mosaic takes the tiles typed (#1000); stepper arrows take Shift (×10) and Ctrl/Cmd (÷10) like the arrow keys (#991). Exports and Rasterize supersample Art Optimized edges, so shapes meeting edge to edge leave no seam (#983). Character and paragraph styles take leading, kerning, mojikumi and the other attributes left out at their defaults (#1001). |
+| 2026-10-11 | Effect › Brush Strokes: Accented Edges, Angled Strokes, Crosshatch, Dark Strokes, Ink Outlines, Spatter, Sprayed Strokes, Sumi-e (G2). Command parameters from agents and files checked before anything changes (paint, place, cuts, dashes, crop, asset ids, anchors, paths, distort; #984–#999); command dialogs keep whole numbers whole, so Create Object Mosaic takes the tiles typed (#1000); stepper arrows take Shift (×10) and Ctrl/Cmd (÷10) like the arrow keys (#991). Exports and Rasterize supersample Art Optimized edges, so shapes meeting edge to edge leave no seam (#983). Character and paragraph styles take leading, kerning, mojikumi and the other attributes left out at their defaults (#1001). Drawing, typing and pasting with no layer shown and unlocked is refused instead of adding art to a hidden or locked layer (#1002). |
 | 2026-10-10 | Initial live Revolve (Effect › 3D and Materials, #846, #605), in its own `three-d` crate. Progress docs re-measured and restructured to the craftrules standard (this page, `docs/target-app-parity.md`, `gaps.md`, `ui-parity.md`, the format, hardware, localization, effects and type checklists). Same day: v0.8.0; Effect › Distort, Pixelate and Texture filters (13); German interface; Variables (data merge); Graph Type value axes and tick marks; restart when the first frame never reaches the screen (#964) |
 | 2026-10-09 | Radial Blur, Smart Blur, Unsharp Mask (gap 2 begins); 340 commits, the busiest day |
 | 2026-10-08 | v0.5.0–v0.7.0; community contributions: Pen and shape-tool modifiers, Layers, Artboards, Japanese composition, Hebrew/Arabic type, interface languages, saved selections |

crates/engine/src/cmd/brushsym.rs

@@ -603,7 +603,7 @@ fn symbol_place(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
     let centre = d.artboards.first().map(|a| a.rect.center()).unwrap_or(Point::ZERO);
     let c = Point::new(f64_or(p, "x", centre.x), f64_or(p, "y", centre.y));
     let size = natural_size(d, &name);
-    let parent = s.doc()?.insertion_parent();
+    let parent = s.doc()?.target_parent()?;
     let id = s.edit("Place Symbol Instance", |d, sel| {
         let id = d.alloc_id();
         d.insert(parent, usize::MAX, Node::new(id, NodeKind::SymbolInstance { symbol: name.clone(), xf: place_xf(c, size) }))?;
@@ -843,7 +843,8 @@ fn symbol_spray(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
     let alt = bool_or(p, "alt", false);
     let size = natural_size(&st.doc, &name);
     let set = st.selection.objects.first().copied().filter(|id| st.selection.len() == 1 && st.doc.node(*id).is_some_and(is_symbol_set));
-    let parent = st.insertion_parent();
+    // Only a new Symbol Set needs a layer that takes new art.
+    let parent = if alt || set.is_some() { st.insertion_parent() } else { st.target_parent()? };
     if alt {
         // Remove instances of this symbol under the brush (within the set, or anywhere).
         let d = &st.doc;

crates/engine/src/cmd/create.rs

@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ pub(crate) fn add_node(s: &mut Session, label: &str, kind: NodeKind, appearance:
 
 /// Insert a new object looking like `look` (drawing modes apply); select it.
 pub(crate) fn add_look(s: &mut Session, label: &str, kind: NodeKind, look: NewArt, name: Option<String>) -> Result<Value> {
-    let parent = s.doc()?.insertion_parent();
+    let parent = s.doc()?.target_parent()?;
     let mode = s.draw_mode;
     let inside = s.draw_inside;
     let behind_of = s.doc()?.selection.in_paint_order(&s.doc()?.doc).first().copied();
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ fn flare(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
         };
         parts.push(("Ring", circle(at, rr), radial(at, rr, stops), 1.0));
     }
-    let parent = s.doc()?.insertion_parent();
+    let parent = s.doc()?.target_parent()?;
     let id = s.edit("Flare", |d, sel| {
         let children = parts
             .into_iter()
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ fn arc(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
 }
 
 fn grid_group(s: &mut Session, label: &str, paths: Vec<PathData>) -> Result<Value> {
-    let parent = s.doc()?.insertion_parent();
+    let parent = s.doc()?.target_parent()?;
     let look = s.new_art_look(vectorcraft_color::Paint::None, s.paint.stroke.clone(), s.paint.stroke_width);
     let id = s.edit(label, |d, sel| {
         let children = paths

crates/engine/src/cmd/edit.rs

@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ fn paste_clip(s: &mut Session, p: &Value, mode: PasteMode, clip: &Clipboard, cho
     let off = s.prefs.paste_offset;
     let st = s.doc()?;
     let same_doc = clip.source_doc == Some(st.uid);
-    let parent = st.insertion_parent();
+    let parent = st.target_parent()?;
     // A copied artboard comes back with its art: right of the last artboard, or where it was
     // (Paste in Place, in Front, in Back). Paste on All Artboards pastes only the art.
     let board = clip

crates/engine/src/cmd/graph.rs

@@ -831,7 +831,7 @@ fn create(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
         spec.categories = vec!["A".into(), "B".into(), "C".into(), "D".into()];
         spec.rows = vec![vec![3.0, 2.0], vec![5.0, 4.0], vec![4.0, 6.0], vec![7.0, 5.0]];
     }
-    let parent = s.doc()?.insertion_parent();
+    let parent = s.doc()?.target_parent()?;
     let id = s.edit("Graph", |d, sel| {
         let gid = d.alloc_id();
         let mut g = Node::group(gid, vec![]);

crates/engine/src/cmd/menucmds.rs

@@ -702,7 +702,7 @@ fn trim_marks(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
     if rects.is_empty() {
         return Err(bad(C, "nothing to mark"));
     }
-    let parent = s.doc()?.insertion_parent();
+    let parent = s.doc()?.target_parent()?;
     let ids = s.edit("Create Trim Marks", |d, sel| {
         let mut ids = vec![];
         for r in &rects {

crates/engine/src/lib.rs

@@ -346,6 +346,14 @@ impl DocState {
         // A sublayer takes new art only while it and the layers around it are shown and unlocked.
         self.active_layer.filter(|l| self.doc.node(*l).is_some_and(|n| n.is_layer()) && self.doc.is_editable(*l)).or_else(|| self.doc.default_layer())
     }
+    /// [`Self::insertion_parent`] for new art, which a locked or hidden layer never takes: an error
+    /// when no layer is shown and unlocked, so the art is refused rather than hidden or locked away.
+    pub fn target_parent(&self) -> Result<Option<NodeId>> {
+        match self.insertion_parent() {
+            Some(p) if !self.doc.is_editable(p) => Err(EngineError::Other("the target layer is locked or hidden".into())),
+            parent => Ok(parent),
+        }
+    }
     /// The highlighted Layers panel rows that still exist (ids are reused after undo, so a
     /// remembered row must still be in the document).
     pub fn highlighted_rows(&self) -> Vec<NodeId> {

crates/engine/src/tests_layers.rs

@@ -78,6 +78,36 @@ fn art_in_a_sublayer_is_selected_as_objects_not_the_sublayer() {
     assert!(s.doc().unwrap().doc.node(a).is_none());
 }
 
+/// #1002: with no layer shown and unlocked, new art is refused (the document unchanged) rather
+/// than put on a hidden or locked layer; another layer that takes art still gets it.
+#[test]
+fn new_art_is_refused_when_no_layer_is_shown_and_unlocked() {
+    for prop in ["visible", "locked"] {
+        let mut s = session();
+        let layer = s.doc().unwrap().doc.layers[0].id;
+        let copied = rect(&mut s, 0.0);
+        run(&mut s, "select.set", json!({"ids": [copied.0]}));
+        run(&mut s, "edit.copy", json!({}));
+        run(&mut s, "select.none", json!({}));
+        run(&mut s, "layer.setProps", json!({"ids": [layer.0], prop: prop == "locked"}));
+        let before = s.doc().unwrap().doc.clone();
+        for (cmd, p) in [
+            ("shape.ellipse", json!({"x": 10, "y": 10, "width": 20, "height": 20})),
+            ("shape.polarGrid", json!({"x": 10, "y": 10, "width": 20, "height": 20})),
+            ("text.create", json!({"x": 10, "y": 40, "text": "A"})),
+            ("edit.paste", json!({})),
+        ] {
+            let e = s.execute(cmd, &p).unwrap_err();
+            assert_eq!(e.to_string(), "the target layer is locked or hidden", "{prop} {cmd}");
+        }
+        assert_eq!(s.doc().unwrap().doc.layers, before.layers, "{prop}: nothing was added");
+        let other = id(&run(&mut s, "layer.new", json!({})));
+        run(&mut s, "layer.setCurrent", json!({"id": layer.0}));
+        let n = rect(&mut s, 50.0);
+        assert_eq!(parent(&s, n), Some(other), "{prop}");
+    }
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn clicking_rows_at_any_depth_highlights_them_and_sets_the_current_layer() {
     let mut s = session();

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/de.tsv

@@ -3656,6 +3656,7 @@ theme	Appearance	Erscheinungsbild
 @msg	the image's pixels don't match its size	die Pixel des Bilds passen nicht zu seiner Größe
 @msg	the layer has no objects to clip by	die Ebene hat keine Objekte, an denen beschnitten werden könnte
 @msg	the layer or group is locked	die Ebene oder Gruppe ist gesperrt
+@msg	the target layer is locked or hidden	die Zielebene ist gesperrt oder ausgeblendet
 @msg	the layer to flatten into is hidden	die Ebene, auf die reduziert werden soll, ist ausgeblendet
 @msg	the object already has an opacity mask	das Objekt hat bereits eine Deckkraftmaske
 @msg	the object has no geometry	das Objekt hat keine Geometrie

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/es.tsv

@@ -3759,6 +3759,7 @@ axis	Both	Ambos
 @msg	the image's pixels don't match its size	los píxeles de la imagen no coinciden con su tamaño
 @msg	the layer has no objects to clip by	la capa no tiene objetos con los que recortar
 @msg	the layer or group is locked	la capa o el grupo está bloqueado
+@msg	the target layer is locked or hidden	la capa de destino está bloqueada u oculta
 @msg	the layer to flatten into is hidden	la capa en la que acoplar está oculta
 @msg	the object already has an opacity mask	el objeto ya tiene una máscara de opacidad
 @msg	the object has no geometry	el objeto no tiene geometría

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fr.tsv

@@ -3756,6 +3756,7 @@ axis	Both	Les deux
 @msg	the image's pixels don't match its size	les pixels de l’image ne correspondent pas à sa taille
 @msg	the layer has no objects to clip by	le calque n’a aucun objet servant à l’écrêtage
 @msg	the layer or group is locked	le calque ou le groupe est verrouillé
+@msg	the target layer is locked or hidden	le calque cible est verrouillé ou masqué
 @msg	the layer to flatten into is hidden	le calque de destination de l’aplatissement est masqué
 @msg	the object already has an opacity mask	l’objet a déjà un masque d’opacité
 @msg	the object has no geometry	l’objet n’a pas de géométrie

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/it.tsv

@@ -3759,6 +3759,7 @@ axis	Both	Entrambi
 @msg	the image's pixels don't match its size	i pixel dell'immagine non corrispondono alle sue dimensioni
 @msg	the layer has no objects to clip by	il livello non ha oggetti con cui ritagliare
 @msg	the layer or group is locked	il livello o il gruppo è bloccato
+@msg	the target layer is locked or hidden	il livello di destinazione è bloccato o nascosto
 @msg	the layer to flatten into is hidden	il livello in cui appiattire è nascosto
 @msg	the object already has an opacity mask	l'oggetto ha già una maschera di opacità
 @msg	the object has no geometry	l'oggetto non ha geometria

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ja.tsv

@@ -3497,6 +3497,7 @@ theme	Appearance	外観
 @msg	no selection bounds	選択範囲に境界がありません
 @msg	the layer has no objects to clip by	レイヤーにクリッピングマスクとして使えるオブジェクトがありません
 @msg	the layer or group is locked	レイヤーまたはグループがロックされています
+@msg	the target layer is locked or hidden	ターゲットレイヤーがロックされているか非表示です
 @msg	the layer to flatten into is hidden	統合先のレイヤーが非表示になっています
 @msg	there are no objects to release	レイヤーに分配するオブジェクトがありません
 @msg	no library `{id}`	ライブラリ `{id}` が見つかりません

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ru.tsv

@@ -3755,6 +3755,7 @@ axis	Both	Оба
 @msg	the image's pixels don't match its size	пиксели изображения не соответствуют его размеру
 @msg	the layer has no objects to clip by	в слое нет объектов для обрезки
 @msg	the layer or group is locked	слой или группа заблокированы
+@msg	the target layer is locked or hidden	целевой слой заблокирован или скрыт
 @msg	the layer to flatten into is hidden	слой для объединения скрыт
 @msg	the object already has an opacity mask	у объекта уже есть непрозрачная маска
 @msg	the object has no geometry	у объекта нет геометрии

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/uk.tsv

@@ -3742,6 +3742,7 @@ axis	Both	Обидві
 @msg	the image's pixels don't match its size	пікселі зображення не відповідають його розміру
 @msg	the layer has no objects to clip by	у шарі немає об’єктів для обрізки
 @msg	the layer or group is locked	шар чи група заблоковані
+@msg	the target layer is locked or hidden	цільовий шар заблокований або прихований
 @msg	the layer to flatten into is hidden	шар для об’єднання прихований
 @msg	the object already has an opacity mask	об’єкт вже має маску непрозорості.
 @msg	the object has no geometry	об’єкт не має геометрії